Congressman Allen West Remembers Pearl Harbor – Statement

(WASHINGTON)— Congressman Allen West (R-FL) released this statement today:

“This morning I spoke to South Floridian and Pearl Harbor survivor, Abe Stein, who as a United States Army Staff Sergeant, witnessed the Japanese Naval attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack killed more than 2,400 Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines, and injured 1,000 servicemembers, marking the beginning of World War II.

Yet, it is the actions of the American military in retaliation to this sneak attack – not the attack itself – that has defined this great nation. Americans everywhere banded together – men volunteered to join the military and women went to work in military supply factories – everyone doing their part for the war effort. Political leaders made hard choices they knew were imperative to the future of this nation. Never has there been a time in American history when this country was more united and focused, as it defended itself against Germany and Japanese totalitarianism.

As the son of a World War II Veteran, Pearl Harbor influenced my father, and thousands of others, to join the United States Military to serve their nation. The commitment of my father to our great nation also influenced me to follow in his footsteps and join the United States Army.

As the decades pass and those who served in World War II fade away, let today not only be a tribute to the sacrifice of lives lost, but also let it be a tribute to the undeniable American spirit and patriotism that is indicative of who we are as a nation.

Just as the USS Arizona still resting in Pearl Harbor today is a reminder of the sacrifice made by so many on this day in 1941, let the continued rise of leaking oil from the ship’s hull to the water’s surface be a reminder of the rising of courage exemplified in American exceptionalism.”